Chapter 193

"Hua Changxi!"

Pang Shaoyu led a squad of Embroidered Uniform Guards to the Armory Forge for a shift change; just as they reached Linjie, he spotted Hua Changxi standing amidst the crowd.

He held a deep impression of Hua Changxi, whether it was her audacity to provoke the Embroidered Uniform Guard during their first encounter or her outstanding medical skills, both remained vivid in his memory.

Hearing her name called, Hua Changxi turned to look and found it was Pang Shaoyu: "Company Commander Pang, what a coincidence."

As soon as she spoke, an Embroidered Uniform Guard beside Pang Shaoyu hastily corrected her: "It is Battalion Commander."

Hua Changxi paused briefly, then smiled: "Congratulations on your promotion, Battalion Commander Pang."

Pang Shaoyu waved his hand, dismissing the guards behind him to proceed with the shift change; only after sending them away did he offer a bitter smile: "My uncle can no longer cultivate and has already left the Northern Town Guard Office. My position as Battalion Commander is merely compensation from the Commander, acknowledging my uncle's years of loyal service and life-risking dedication."

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi's eyes flickered; eager to learn more about the imperial family, she tentatively said: "Although your uncle's spiritual root is severely damaged, it is not beyond repair."

"While spiritual plants and medicines capable of repairing spiritual roots are rare and ordinary people cannot obtain them, the imperial family certainly possesses them. As the Town Guard Commander of the Northern Town Guard Office, your uncle rendered meritorious service; obtaining some precious medicine should not be difficult for him."

At these words, Pang Shaoyu's expression turned somewhat ugly: "The Town Guard Commander is merely a fifth-rank official." Though he spoke thus, the expression on his face revealed the resentment churning in his heart.

In other departments, a fifth-rank position might indeed be insignificant, but the Northern and Southern Town Guard Commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard are noted by the Emperor himself, regarded as powerful ministers wielding real authority and favored by the throne.

On the surface, my uncle left the Northern Town Guard Office because his spiritual root was damaged, rendering him unable to cultivate. In reality, however, the imperial family has set its sights on the position of Town Guard Commander.

When my uncle was gravely injured, those above never arranged for a competent physician to diagnose and treat him; had I not sought out Hua Changxi in time, my uncle might have been exhausted to death.

The imperial family eagerly awaited my uncle vacating his position quickly, so they would have a legitimate reason to install someone else; why would they expend precious medicine to treat him?

My promotion to Battalion Commander was merely a compensatory measure taken by the Commander to prevent those beneath him from becoming too disheartened.

Recalling his uncle's instruction to befriend Hua Changxi diligently, Pang Shaoyu voluntarily revealed: "Over the past two years, the imperial family has been installing members of the Chu clan everywhere; nowadays, every government department bears their presence, and officials without background or patronage can only make way for them."

Hua Changxi offered no opinion on this matter, instead asking: "Are there many cultivators among the imperial clan?"

Pang Shaoyu nodded solemnly: "Many. Although few are born with spiritual roots, the imperial family controls the Human-Seed Fruit Tree; using Human-Seed Fruits, one can refine Rebirth Pills, which, when consumed alongside attribute-specific spiritual pills, can forge postnatal spiritual roots."

"Because of the Human-Seed Fruit Tree, not only have a large number of imperial clan members become cultivators, but the imperial family has also recruited numerous high-grade martial artists from before. High-grade martial artists already possess formidable combat power; after embarking on the path of cultivation, their strength surges even further."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi gained a preliminary understanding of the imperial family's profound foundation; however, heavenly treasures like the Human-Seed Fruit Tree would certainly not be supplied endlessly.

Just as she intended to inquire further, she noticed an 'unusual' middle-aged male cultivator appearing outside the Armory Forge.

The reason he seemed unusual was that, according to her spiritual energy perception, he was merely a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator; yet through her diagnostic arts of observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking, she 'saw' a Nascent Soul hovering above his sea of qi.

Noticing Hua Changxi's unusual reaction, Pang Shaoyu followed her gaze and his face immediately darkened: "That man is Chu Zhufeng, the new Northern Town Guard Commander who replaced my uncle."

Hua Changxi's eyes flashed: "The imperial family truly hides dragons and tigers." She paused, then added, "With even the Town Guard Commander present, you surely did not come merely to guard the Armory Forge?"

Pang Shaoyu desired to befriend Hua Changxi, yet he also knew that without offering corresponding value, she would not bother engaging with him.

He had never fully discerned Hua Changxi's cultivation level, but one thing was certain: her strength absolutely surpassed his own.

Stronger than himself, capable of pill refining, and possessing outstanding medical skills—to befriend such a person, he, as a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, could only offer information unknown to outsiders in exchange.

"Inside the Armory Forge reside blacksmiths whose trades have been passed down through generations; according to our investigations, many of them acquired legacies of artifact refining after the resurgence of spiritual energy."

"Pill refining, artifact refining, talisman crafting, and array formation are not skills one can learn casually; mastering them is even more difficult. A group of flawless artifact refiners has already emerged within the Armory Forge; these individuals are treasured talents, and naturally, the imperial family wishes to recruit them for its own use."

"One of our tasks in the Embroidered Uniform Guard is to register and investigate each of those artifact refiners individually."

Lowering his voice slightly, Pang Shaoyu continued: "The reason Chu Zhufeng came personally is that he seeks to secretly locate the successor of the Artifact Saint Palace."

"The Fusang Divine Wood merely flashed a few times, yet it caused spiritual energy around the Armory Forge to surge violently, resulting in countless fire-attribute cultivators advancing and breaking through; one can imagine that once the sacred land opens, it will undoubtedly become an unparalleled, supreme cultivation sanctuary."

"Regarding this, not only does the imperial family desperately wish to claim it for itself, but other noble families and powerful clans are equally envious."

Looking at Hua Changxi, Pang Shaoyu suddenly asked: "Did you come today to see your father and brother?"

Hua Changxi replied: "You know my father and brother?"

Pang Shaoyu smiled: "I am from the Embroidered Uniform Guard; gathering intelligence is our most basic means of survival. Since we have interacted several times, I shall not hide it from you: privately, I have investigated your family's situation."

"When the Embroidered Uniform Guard executes missions here, we inevitably come into contact with the Demon-Suppressing Army and the Six Doors; I have met your father and brother before, which is how I recognized them."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi said nothing.

Worried she might be angered, Pang Shaoyu hastily added: "The situation here at the Armory Forge is very complex now, with all parties deploying forces; you must remind your father and brother to avoid rushing forward in all matters, lest they be used as pawns and lose their lives without even knowing how it happened."

Hua Changxi replied: "Thank you for your reminder; I will do so."

Just as Pang Shaoyu intended to say more, he saw Hua Minghe and Hua Dalang approaching together from the direction of Hua Changxi.

"Ninth Sister!"

"Father, Eldest Brother."

As Hua Minghe and Hua Dalang drew near, Hua Changxi had just called out to them when Pang Shaoyu smiled, stepped forward quickly, exchanged greetings, and introduced himself.

"I am Pang Shaoyu, Battalion Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a friend of Master Hua; should Elder Hua or Brother Hua ever need my assistance in the future, please do not stand on ceremony."

"I shall not disturb your conversation further; I will take my leave now."

Pang Shaoyu adopted such a humble posture in actively seeking friendship that both Hua Minghe and Hua Dalang felt somewhat surprised; having dealt with the Embroidered Uniform Guard before, they knew that every previous encounter involved guards who looked down on everyone from atop their heads, never displaying such courtesy and friendliness.

After Pang Shaoyu departed, father and son turned to look at Hua Changxi, both harboring different emotions flashing in their eyes.

At this moment, Hua Changxi wore a red dharma robe refined by Tong Yao; her entire appearance was both valiant and capable, yet flamboyant and dazzling, standing out among the crowd like a crane among chickens, impossible to ignore.